India Economic Update: RBI Maintains Hawkish Stance Despite Growth Concerns

The Reserve Bank of India's latest monetary policy decision and economic assessment reveal a complex balancing act between growth support and inflation control. The RBI maintained its repo rate at 6.5% for the ninth consecutive meeting, defying market expectations for a 25bp cut. Governor Shaktikanta Das emphasized that inflation risks remain elevated despite recent moderation. June CPI inflation stood at 4.8%, within the RBI's 2-6% target band but above the 4% medium-term goal. Core inflation remains sticky at 3.9%, driven by services prices and rising food costs due to uneven monsoon distribution. GDP growth for FY2025-26 is projected at 7.2%, maintaining India's position as the fastest-growing major economy. However, momentum has slowed from the 8.2% recorded in FY2024-25. Manufacturing PMI at 57.5 indicates robust expansion, while services PMI at 60.2 shows exceptional strength. Investment activity shows mixed signals with infrastructure spending strong but private capex remaining subdued. The current account deficit widened to 1.9% of GDP on higher oil imports and gold demand. Foreign exchange reserves stand at a comfortable $648 billion. The banking sector shows improvement with gross NPAs declining to 3.2%, the lowest in a decade. Credit growth at 15.8% YoY supports economic activity. Market reaction was negative with the Sensex falling 1.2% and 10-year government bond yields rising 8bp. The rupee weakened to 83.45 per dollar. The report concludes that while India's growth story remains intact, the RBI's hawkish stance may constrain near-term momentum. Focus shifts to fiscal policy and reform implementation to sustain growth trajectory.